FAQs

FAQs

Registration

How do I register?

You can register online until 9/26/19 at 12 pm. (Noon)…unless we close out before then. If there is space available, you can register in person on race weekend.

Is the online registration secure?

We have processed thousands of registrations and never had a security breach or lost any information. We take your privacy seriously, so rest assured, you can register safely

Can I switch from the full to the half (or vice versa?)

Yes. However, due to the lead time to order our runner shirts, you can only make a switch until 9/1/19. There is no refund for the balance of the difference in the price to go from Full to Half, but you will need to pay the increased charge to move from the Half to the Full.

How much is the race entry fee?

Full Marathon
$90 until 11:59 pm 8/18/19
$100 until 11:59 pm 9/8/19
$110 until race day

Half Marathon
$60 until 11:59 p.m on 8/18/19
$70 until 11:59 p.m. on 9/8/19
$80 from 9/8/19 until race day

Super Seniors & Kids’ Marathons
Free with completion of mileage log

Can I get a refund if I cannot run?

Change dates for injury deferment request to 9/15/19

Is there an age requirement to run the full or the half?

Yes. You must be 16 years old on race day to run the full marathon. You must be 14 years old on race day to run the half marathon.

What about the t-shirts? Are the men’s and women’s cut the same? What sizes are available. Can you guarantee I’ll get my size?

Every registered runner will receive a Clarence DeMar Marathon t-shirt. (Plus an appropriately gaudy finisher’s medal when you cross the finish line!) A sizing chart is available on the Online Registration page. Men’s and women’s shirts are cut differently.

BUT…If you want to guarantee that you’ll get your shirt and your requested shirt size, register early and on-line.

We do our best to give each runner their size, but to get the really cool t-shirts we all love, we have to order pretty far in advance. If you register early, then we can make a more accurate order. e can NOT guarantee you a shirt if you wait until race weekend to register.

Can I transfer my entry to someone else if I am unable to run?

Yes. The deadline is September 1st. You will need to access your personal registration confirmation page to make changes to your registration. Please use the link in your RunReg confirmation email. Please note, there is a $20 fee to be paid by the new runner at the time of registration. Managing transfers is quite a lot of extra work for our registration host and for our registration team.

When (and where) do I pick up my bib and runner packet?

Runners can check in and pick up their bibs and runner packets according to the following schedule.

Full Marathoners: If picking up your bib and packet on Race Day, do so at Keene State College and then board the shuttle bus to the start in Gilsum.

If you are having family or friends drop you off in Gilsum, pick up your bib and packet at Keene State College first.

Half Marathoners: If picking up your bib and packet on Race Day, do so at Keene State College and then board the shuttle bus to the start in Gilsum.

Can I have someone else pick up my bib and packet for me?

We encourage runners to make it to any of the 3 times scheduled for runner check in, but if you are not able to make it, you can have someone else pick up your bib and packet if they have something in writing from you giving them that permission. ?

What is the Early Start option?

Not any more. We’ve permanently changed the start of the full marathon to 7:00 am, so everyone is an early starter. Any earlier than that, and you wouldn’t be running in daylight for a while. Course support will still be pulled at 2:30 pm, providing a full 7 hours and 30 minutes to complete your marathon.

The Course

What’s the course like?

The Clarence DeMar Marathon course winds through exquisite New England scenery at the height of foliage season. You also get to run through a class small New Hampshire town replete with history. All DeMar runners enjoy a world-class running experience, along with the support and encouragement of 300+ volunteers.

Is it USATF-certified?

Will running this race qualify me for the Boston marathon?

Absolutely. In fact, that’s what brings many of our runners to DeMar.

The date of the Clarence DeMar Marathon is usually after the next Boston Marathon registration has closed. However, a Clarence DeMar BQ will also qualify you for the following year’s Boston Marathon. A 2017 DeMar BQ gives you the opportunity to register for the 2019 Boston Marathon. In 2016, 20% of all DeMar finishers achieved a BQ!

What are the award categories?

In both the Full Marathon and the Half Marathon: First place male and first place female. Both these champions will have an automatic entry to the 2015 DeMar to defend their titles.

1st and 2nd place in each age category:

16-29

30-39

40-49

50-59

60-69

70+

We also recognize the top 3 male and female Cheshire County finishers.

What are the course records?

Are there pace groups?

Unfortunately no.

Is it ok to walk DeMar?

We strongly discourage walkers, especially for the Full Marathon! There is a 7 ½ hour time limit for the full which begins at 7:00 am sharp, and ends at 2:30 pm. At that time, all course support is pulled from the course. We rely on the generosity, energy and enthusiasm from hundreds of community volunteers, not to mention municipal and medical resources. It is not fair to ask them to maintain that level of support for any longer than we already do. If you are not able to maintain an average pace of 17 minutes per mile, please register for the DeMar Half Marathon.

Where do I park?

Runners may park in any of the Keene State College Lots. See the Parking Map and Parking Details. Please do not park in a lot reserved for residential students, a fire lane, a lawn, or a handicapped space without a permit as you will be fined and/or towed.

How do I get back to my car at the end?

Two buses will return Half Marathon runners to the Surry Mtn Lake. Buses will leave from the Maddison St parking lot at 12 p.m. and 1 p.m.

There are no buses returning to the Gilsum start line.

Where’s the starting point (and how do I get there)?

The Half Marathon begins at the Surry Mtn Lake in Surry, NH. (See the course map.) NOT the Surry Mountain Dam! Drive past the Surry Dam Rd and the entrance to Surry Mountain Lake is less than a mile past that on your right. You may park there, be dropped off there by family and friends, or you may take the shuttle buses from the Keene State College Spaulding parking lot.

Can I have someone drop me off at the start?

Yes. Note that there are two bus shuttles returning to the Surry Mtn Lake from the Keene State College Spaulding lot, the first at 12 p.m. and the last at 1 p.m. There are no bus shuttles returning to the Gilsum start.

What is the Race Day shuttle bus schedule?

All buses leave from the Spaulding parking lot at Keene State College. (TK-See Parking Map.) Parking for shuttles to the starting area in Gilsum and Surry will be in any of the Keene State College Lots. Please do not park in a lot reserved for residential students, a fire lane, a lawn, or a handicapped space without a permit as you will be fined and/or possibly towed.

Make sure you are on the right bus. They will be labeled.

Full Marathon runners to Gilsum start
Buses run from 5:15-5:45 a.m. Buses leave when full or nearly full.

All Full Marathon runners will be dropped off at the Gilsum Elementary School where there is plenty of parking and they will have access to the gym/cafeteria before the race starts.There are no buses returning to Gilsum after the race.

Half Marathon runners to Surry Mtn Lake
Buses run from 6:30-7 a.m. Buses leave when full or nearly full.

What’s the weather like in September?

You will get to experience early foliage here in Southwest New Hampshire. The weather is generally between 30F and 60F, but it can fluctuate beyond that. Humidity is generally low, but again, in New England, it is hard to predict. As the locals say, it’s spring in the morning, summer in the afternoon, and fall at night! Please check the weather starting a week before the race to make sure you dress appropriately. Please see our severe weather policy.

Can I run with my dog, a stroller, headphones?

Dogs—No. We love dogs, cats, geckos, hamsters, goats and any other animal that could be considered a pet, HOWEVER, for their safety, please leave them at home. This includes wookies. You may bring husbands as long as you leash them (they have a tendency to wander into traffic).

Strollers—No. Spectators are welcome to have strollers.

Headphones—Discouraged. The USA Track & Field sanctioning body strongly recommends that, for their safety, runners not use headphones or earbuds. It is not prohibited at the Clarence DeMar Marathon and DeMar Half Marathon, but discouraged for the safety of our runners.

How many aid stations are there and what do they offer?

There are 15 aid stations on the full course and 10 for the half. Each station has lime flavored Gatorade and water. They DO NOT include any other supplements.

Are there any portable toilets on the course?

Yes there are. There are plenty at the start of each race, and then about every 5-6 miles along the course. Signs will give you a heads up on when one is coming up.

First time running a full or half marathon?

Some good “Race Etiquette” to be aware of: Answer: We are very proud anytime someone chooses DeMar for their first full or half marathon. We hope to share some general race etiquette to be aware of to enhance your experience:

Pay for your spot: Running in a race you haven’t entered, also called “banditing”, is not fair to race organizers, volunteers, and especially the people who have paid to participate. It’s also unsafe, since race organizers plan their course amenities, such as water and sports drinks, and medical assistance based on the number of people who have signed up for the race. And overcrowded race conditions can lead to falls and other problems. Don’t do it.

Don’t run with someone else’s bib number: Race organizers must work very closely with the local Emergency Management Agency and supply an entrant database to all area EMS departments. This database includes all runners first and last names by bib number, along with the corresponding emergency contact information for each participant. If a runner wearing your bib has a medical issue, we won’t be able to help them as effectively if we don’t know them. If you run using someone else’s bib, we don’t know you, so you’re at risk as well. You get the idea. Run only with your own race number—period. If we find you doing otherwise, you and anyone else involved risk being suspended from future DeMar events.

Line up properly: The Clarence DeMar Marathon and DeMar Half Marathon is a small event and since there are no starting corrals, runners must ‘self-seed’ themselves at the starting line. Nothing is more annoying to a runner at the start of a race than having to weave around slower runners after the gun goes off. Faster runners should line up at the front of the starting line, slower runners and walkers at the back. If you are unsure if you are lined up in the right place, ask some of your fellow nearby competitors their anticipated pace, and if it’s faster than yours, move further back. The full and half marathon are chip-timed, so the time it takes you to reach the starting line won’t count in your final net time.

Don’t jingle: Don’t carry loose change or a set of keys in your pocket. Although it may not bother you, the constant jingling can be really annoying to those who are running near you.

Don’t block the running path: If you’re running with a group, don’t run more than two abreast (i.e., 2 runners side-by-side), so others can pass you.

Show volunteers appreciation: Please say “Thank You!” to race volunteers who hand you water, put your medal around your neck, or otherwise help you. They’re volunteering their time and the race would not be successful without them.

Thank supporters, too: Acknowledge race spectators who cheer for you as you pass them. If you’re too tired to say “thanks,” show them a smile, wave, or give them a thumbs up. It will make them feel good and encourage them to keep rooting for others.

Use caution at fluid stations: Water stations can get a bit chaotic and crowded. Use caution when running into a water stop and make sure you’re not cutting off other runners or spilling water on them. If you’re going to stop or slow down to walk through the water stop, make sure there’s not a runner behind you.

Keep moving at the finish: Don’t immediately stop at the finish line or in the chute. There will be runners coming in right behind you, so keep going until its safe to come to a stop.

Don’t be a glutton: Don’t take more than your fair share of food and drinks at the finish line. The back of the pack runners will appreciate it when there are still enough goodies for them at the end.

90 miles from Keene
Roughly a 90-minute drive
A small accessible airport with direct flight options.

What kinds of amenities do you offer on site?

Our volunteers are absolutely dedicated to making this race the very best for you. It is directed by runners and people who care deeply about the local community. We pride ourselves in providing an exceptional endurance event experience for runners of all abilities on one of the most scenic courses you’ll ever run, in early New England fall foliage season. A LOT of sweat and late nights go into planning for the race!

Amenities include a pre-race pasta dinner, water stations approximately every 1.5 miles and portapotties every 6 miles, strategically placed cheering stations along the route, showers and massages at the finish line, a race t-shirt and finisher’s medal, and a crew of volunteers who care for you every step of the way.

Is there a medical team on site?

Yes. The Clarence Demar Marathon Medical Team will be fully staffed with EMTs, nurses, athletic trainers, mid-level providers and providers. Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth Hitchcock Keene is proud to be the primary medical volunteers at this race and we are very excited to be available to assist you on race day. Our team will provide rapid assessment and treatment of your medical needs during and post marathon. We want you to have a safe and healthy race, and are here to help however we can.

You must pre-register for the Spaghetti dinner. Space is limited. We are expecting to sell out the pasta dinner.

Where are the massages?

At the finish line! The free massages are FOR RUNNERS ONLY. Remember, the faster you finish, the smaller the lines. Massage services are proudly provided by Deep Roots Massage and Body Works of Keene

Are there showers available after the race?

Yes. The Spaulding Gymnasium is a short walk from the finish line. The men’s and women’s locker rooms will be available for showering. You are also able to use any available lockers. Please bring your own lock and towel.

Do you have a severe weather or cancellation policy?

Is there any cool DeMar apparel I can buy?

Absolutely! Click on the link to our on-line store to check out all your options. All purchases will be mailed directly to you. We expect to add options as we get closer to race day, so check back occasionally.

Get Involved

“I had the privilege to run in famously scenic places and this marathon is up there with the best.”

As a runner and a race director I can say that this is quite simply one of the finest half marathons I have run. The volunteers are all helpful and cheerful even at 6 am! The course is beautiful with PR potential which is a great combination. Also the finish line under the arch at Keene State makes you feel like you are in the Olympics. Run this race!”